Half to zalmon goodsell



(No Model.)

W. CRUNOW,J1".` CONTACT BOX TOR DEPRBSSIBLE CONDUCTOR RAILS.

Patented Peb'. 2, 11891.

IIVVENTH WUNESSES 25; a/,

NITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

VILLIAM GRUNOV, JR., OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO ZALMON GOODSELL, OF SAME PLACE.

CONTACTnBOX FOR DEPRESSIBLE CONDUCTOR-RAILS.

`SPE(LIIFICACLION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,268, dated February 2, 18297. Application filed `May 8, 1896. Serial No. 590,787. (No model.)

T @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM GRUNow, Jr., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ContactA electrical railways and trolley-cars in which y depressible rails are employed as conductors, said rails being placed in the center of or between thc rails of the track-such, for instance, as are referred to or described in applications for Letters Patent of the United States filed by me August 27, 1895, Serial No. 560,662, and October 28, 1805, Serial No. 567,139.

3o The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, said drawing being a transverse vertical section of my improved contact-box.

3 5 In the practice of my invention I provide a box A, which is cast in the required form or in separate parts, which are securely connected or bolted together in any desired manner, and if cast in separate parts which are 4o afterward bolted together the connections should be such as to render the box watertight'.

One side of the box A is higher than the other and is provided with a cap or cover consisting` of one .or more lids or plates ct,

' which are secured in position in any desired manner and one of which is placed over the other, and, as shown in the drawing, the lower lid or plate a. is placed upon an annu- 5o lar shoulder or projection a2, and is secured thereto by a cross-head or disk a3, which is provided centrally` with a bolt a4, which passes through the lid or plate with which it is connectedLand these connections should be such as to prevent the passage of moisture 5 5 into the box or casing.

The box A is provided with outwardly-directed flanges or plates F, whereby it can be secured to the ties of the track or to a specially-built frame, or any suitable support; 6o and it is also provided with a tubular projection T at one side thereof, which may be screw-threaded in order to provide means for attaching pipes thereto, and through which passes a conducting cable or cables C, and any desired number of these tubular projec tions T may be employed.

Within the boX A and near the bottom thereof is a partitionplate or transverse block B, consisting of any preferred insulat- 7o ing material and which is supported on and is bolted to inwardly-directed flanges b, and this insulating block or plate B is perforated, as shown at b2, in order that any moisture or water within the upper portion of the box or casing will pass through into the space below said plate or block, thus preventing the accumulation of water or moisture on the upper surface of the insulating plate or block B, as will be readily understood, and any 8o i water that may accumulate in the compartment below the plate or block may be removed by means of a pipe or hose from. above,

to which a hand-pump or other device may be attached. To the upper surface of the block or plate B is attached a metal contact-bar D, with one end of which the cable C is connected by a clamp or plate d, and the other end of the contact-bar D is preferably provided with a 9o circular head d2, which is planed oft or made smooth on its upper surface, so as to insure a perfect metallic contact with the lower end of the spring operated and insulated plunger or shaft P when the same is forced downwardly in the operation of the device, as hereinafter described. This shaft P is surrounded by an insulating-bushing K, which is incased in a metallic sleeve M, and said sleeve, the

bushing therein, and the shaft P are free to roc slide vertically through a stuffing-box S, by means of which a water-tight connection is made.

The upper end of the shaft P enters the depressible rail R, which is incased on three of its sides and at its ends by insulating material J, made, preferably, of oak-strips saturated in boiling oil and heavily coated with tar or asphaltum, and between said depressible rail and the contact-box is a spring S2, which is placed around the sleeve M, and which bears upon an annular rim or flange m at the upper end thereof and which is designed to keep the rail R in the raised position when it is not depressed by the trolley-wheels, whichv are not shown.

To the lower end of the shaft P is applied a sliding sleeve P2, which is prevented from dropping off said shaft by a nut P3, and between the sleeve P2 and the shoulder formed by the lower end of the insulating-bushing K is placed a spiral spring S3, which is designed to press the sleeve P2 downwardly to the extreme end of the shaft P and upon the nut P3.

The operation will be readily'understood from the foregoingdescription, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and the following statement thereof. The rail It is depressed by the trolley or contact wheel or wheels when passing over it, thus forcing the shaft P downwardly until the sleeve P2 rests on the end cl2 of the contact-bar D, and the current will thus pass through the cable C, through said bar D, and through the shaft P to the rail R. rThe object of the sleeve P2 being spring-cushioned is to insure a steady contact after the shaft P is pressed downwardly, thus allowing1 for any vertical oscillation of the rail which may occur even` though it is operated on by the trolley wheel or wheels. This device is simple in construction and operation, and it is evident that changes in and modifications of the construction herein described may be made without departing` from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages, and I reserve the right to make all such alterations therein and modifications thereof as fairly come within the scope of the invention.

I'Iaving fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Iletters Patent- 1. The herein-described contact-box, which is adapted for use in connection with electrical railways, provided with a depressible contact-rail, said box or casingbeing provided with a suitable cap or cover, and near the bottom thereof with a transverse non-conducting partition plate or bar, provided with perforations and on which is mounted a conductingbar with one end of which a cable or conductor is connected, said box being also provided with a vertically-movable insulated shaft'which is adapted to make contact with the opposite end of said bar, and vwhich is,

adapted to be depressed by the depressible rail, substantially as shown and described.

2. The herein-described contact-box, which is adapted for use in connection with electrical railways, provided with a depressible contactrail,said box or casing,bein g provided with a suitable cap or cover, and near the bottom thereof,with a transverse non-conducting partition plate or bar, provided with perforations and on which is mounted a conductingbar, with one end of which a cable or conductor is connected, said box being also provided with a vertically-movable insulated shaft which is adapted to make contact with the opposite end of said bar, and forced downwardly against the action of the spring thereon and which is adapted to be depressed by the depressible rail, and said shaft -being mounted in a vertically-movable sleeve from which it is insulated, and adapted to move therewith, and said sleeve being spring-supported, substantially as shown and described.

3. The herein-described c0ntact-box, which is adapted for use in connection with electrical railways, provided with a depressible contact-rail, said box or casin g being provided with a suitable cap or cover, and near the bottom thereof, with a transverse non-conductin g partition plate or bar, on which is mounted a conducting-bar, with one end of which a cable or conductor is connected, said box or casing being also provided with a verticallymovable insulated shaft'which is adapted to make contact with the opposite end of said bar, and which is adapted to be depressed by the depressible rail, and said shaft being mounted in a vertically-movable sleeve from which it is insulated, and adapted to move therewith, and said sleeve being spring-supported, and said shaft being provided at its lower end, with a spring-cushioned sleeve which is adapted to slide thereon, substantially as shown and described.

4. Theherein-described contact-box, which is adapted for use in connection with electrical railways, provided with a depressible contact-rail, said box or Casin g bein g provided with a suitable cap or cover, and near the bottom thereof,with a transverse non-conductin g partition plate or bar, on which is mounted a conducting-bar, with one end of which a cable or conductor is connected, said box or casing being also provided with a verticallymovable insulated shaft which is adapted to make contact with the opposite end of said bar, and which is adapted to be depressed by the depressible rail, and said shaft being mounted in a vertically-movable sleeve from which it is insulated, and adapted to move therewith, and said sleeve being spring-supported, and said shaft being provided on its lower end with a spring-cushioned sleeve which is adapted to slide thereon, and said partition plate or bar being perforated, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my naine, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 2d day of May, 1896.

WILLIAM GRUNOIV, JR.

Vitnesses:

' H. F. Noacnoss,

CHARLES KELsnY.

IOC)

IIO 

